The Ship Model Forum

Gotcha, thanks.

Bob

Unfortunately, at present, Frosted Extreme detail is limited by the number of parts printed at the same time. For these multi-deck superstructures, four parts is one part too many for Frosted Extreme.

I designed the parts with separate decks so that the interiors, which will be visible through the large openings, may be painted. I can design them fully assembled, if that is the better option for modelers.

Shapeways reports that the main reason for the difference in price between the two is that it takes much longer to print a part in Frosted Extreme with layers just 16 microns thick (time = money). The amount of material extruded is the nearly the same between the two.

I saw that, but Frosted Extreme Detail, while costlier, is more detail specific and the scanning and printing lines are far less evident. It requires a little bit less paint or Mr. Surfacer to cover up those little printing blemishes that sometimes occur, which means that the fidelity of the part can stand up better.

Bob

[quote="aptivaboy"]Can these be ordered in Frosted extreme detail? I'm at work and the firewall won't let me go to Shapeways to check.

Thanks!

Bob[/quote]

Check the first paragraph of this post ,says "The design for the superstructure for USS Pennsylvania BB-38 as she appeared on December 7th, 1941 is complete and ready for 3D printing in Frosted Ultra Detail "
hope it helps

Can these be ordered in Frosted extreme detail? I'm at work and the firewall won't let me go to Shapeways to check.

Thanks!

Bob

Hey, thanks for the tips. Enamels are my preferred paint, so I will be sure to experiment before committing. I'll also have ago at a lacquer primer coat and see if that helps.

- Sean F.

I just received my Model Monkey 1/700 Arizona turrets. Definitely an improvement over the Dragon turrets, with finer detail. :thumbs_up_1: There are a couple of things some modelers might find issue with - there is no pivot post printed on to the turret bottom, so you have to either: glue on a piece of plastic tubing of suitable diameter, or glue the turrets direct to the barbettes; and the gun barrels and turrets are a single printed unit, so if you want to use your nice new shiny turned brass barrels, you will have to cut off the printed barrels and drill holes for the brass ones. The turrets are sold as 3 of one catalog number, and a fourth of another catalog number, although I really can't see a difference between the two. :wave_1:

[quote="SeanF"]Those structures look really good, and that's amazing how quickly it came from suggestion to product! I just ordered the 1941 bridge in both 1:350 and 1:700.
Makes me glad my 1:350 Pennsylvania conversion project has been stalled out for so long!

- Sean F.[/quote]
Sean, some feedback I have received may be of help to you when you get the superstructure parts. The parts are printed in an acrylic plastic called Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) which is more brittle than polystyrene. Since I designed the parts to be very tight-fitting, if necessary at all, trim for a good fit rather than using any force.

FUD acrylic plastic takes acrylic paints designed specifically for plastics very well. Enamels may not harden on it.

Hope these tips help make for a very happy experience with your new superstructures!

[quote="SeanF"]Those structures look really good, and that's amazing how quickly it came from suggestion to product! I just ordered the 1941 bridge in both 1:350 and 1:700.
Makes me glad my 1:350 Pennsylvania conversion project has been stalled out for so long!

- Sean F.[/quote]
[b][color=#0000FF]Thanks so much for the compliment and order![/color][/b] I hope you'll be thrilled with the superstructures.

Those structures look really good, and that's amazing how quickly it came from suggestion to product! I just ordered the 1941 bridge in both 1:350 and 1:700.
Makes me glad my 1:350 Pennsylvania conversion project has been stalled out for so long!

- Sean F.

[quote="Brian K."]I just ordered 2 of the Pennsylvania 41 bridge sets!!![/quote]
[color=#0000FF][b]Thanks so much![/b][/color]
[quote="Brian K."]How about some 1941 Nevada / Oklahoma main gun turrets in 1/700 also a good 1941 Arizona bridge sounds awesome.[/quote]
Stay tuned.
[quote="biggles2"]Personally, I would prefer a Dec 7, superstructure version. I did some scratch and used Eduard's PE set to improve the kit, but your stuff looks a lot better! Would you also be doing improved ship's boats and launches? :wave_1:[/quote]
[color=#0000FF][b]Thanks so much![/b][/color]
I'll have to pass on ships boats for now.

For all 1/700 fans, please check out [color=#0000FF][b]3DModelparts.com for fighting tops[/b][/color]. Superb work, superb products, superb customer service.

Personally, I would prefer a Dec 7, superstructure version. I did some scratch and used Eduard's PE set to improve the kit, but your stuff looks a lot better! Would you also be doing improved ship's boats and launches? :wave_1:

I just ordered 2 of the Pennsylvania 41 bridge sets!!! How about some 1941 Nevada / Oklahoma main gun turrets in 1/700 also a good 1941 Arizona bridge sounds awesome.

[quote="biggles2"]Are you going to design a superstructure for Arizona, same era? In 1/700? If so, I'm going to have to buy yet another Dragon kit (4th) and start again! :big_grin:[/quote]
[quote="MartinJQuinn"][quote="ModelMonkey"]Are the kits' superstructures pretty bad?[/quote]
Here are some photos of what Tony Bunch did to his Dragon 1/700 AZ some years ago to make the forward superstructure more accurate. You can judge for yourself.[/quote]
Tony is a real trooper!

Looks like some Model Monkey magic is required. Okay, I'll do an [i]Arizona[/i]. Which era is preferred, 1936-ish or December 7th?

I have other projects I am promised to complete first (including Penn/Az fighting tops - but not in 1/700, go to 3DModelparts for those), but worry not, my nautical friends, it will come. In the mean-time, may I suggest a [i]Pennsylvania[/i]?
[quote="SeanF"]Other Dec. 7 differences between AZ & Penn as I recall:
Penn had no 1.1 quads, but did have the 3" mounts where AZ had empty tubs. Horizontal member of the big boat cranes is lower than on Az. Avgas pipe is on the other side of the hull and routed a bit differently. There is some difference in the termination of the hull bulges at the stern.
Go to the Calling All Ship Fans page; I recall running through these at length some time ago.

- Sean F.[/quote]
Sean has made extensive, valuable and helpful notes on that thread.

[quote="ModelMonkey"]Are the kits' superstructures pretty bad?[/quote]
Here are some photos of what Tony Bunch did to his Dragon 1/700 AZ some years ago to make the forward superstructure more accurate. You can judge for yourself.
[attachment=0]AZ19.JPG[/attachment]
[attachment=2]AZ15.JPG[/attachment]
[attachment=1]AZ16.JPG[/attachment]

Other Dec. 7 differences between AZ & Penn as I recall:
Penn had no 1.1 quads, but did have the 3" mounts where AZ had empty tubs. Horizontal member of the big boat cranes is lower than on Az. Avgas pipe is on the other side of the hull and routed a bit differently. There is some difference in the termination of the hull bulges at the stern.
Go to the Calling All Ship Fans page; I recall running through these at length some time ago.

- Sean F.

Steve,

You do amazing work!

My kingdom for some 1/350 water cooled .50 cals so I don't have to use these:

[url]http://www.squadron.com/1-350-White-Ensign-USN-0-50-cal-Watercooled-Machi-p/we3549.htm[/url]

No offense to John Snyder or Peter Hall.....

Bob

[quote="irishgreek"]Yes, I have a late war Dragon Penn (which is VERY different as you mention {lots of DP 5" and AA}), but was wondering what else would I have to do to turn a Arizona into a Penn from Pearl Timeframe. I thought they were close, but wasn't sure if other things outside the bridge/superstructure were significantly different. Thanks.[/quote]
Ah yes, for Pearl Harbor, [i]Pennsylvania[/i] did receive and mount a CXAM-1 radar screen on her foremast. This radar was censored out of the photos of her with the wrecked USS [i]Cassin[/i] and USS [i]Downes[/i] before her in drydock. The exact location and shape of the radar shack is unconfirmed and may be identical to [i]Arizona's[/i]. I chose not to include it since no information about it could be found in time to make the design.

[i]Pennsylvania's[/i] mast platforms appear to be identical to [i]Arizona's[/i] on this date. Not so after her refit at Mare Island the next month. So your [i]Arizona[/i] kit's masts and fighting tops work out well. [i]Pennsylvania's[/i] inclined tripod legs may be a tad bit steeper.

If you study the Pearl Harbor drydock photo closely and compare it to the Mare Island superstructure photo above, you may notice what appears to be the same life raft stowage on the starboard side.

She may have had four quad 1.1 inch AA guns (Chicago Pianos) mounted that [i]Arizona[/i] did not yet have, but was scheduled to.

To confirm Pennsylvania's December 7th AA fit and mast platform shapes, you may want to ask Tracy White on this site as he has done extensive research into ships at Pearl Harbor.

Hope this helps and best wishes on your model!

Yes, I have a late war Dragon Penn (which is VERY different as you mention {lots of DP 5" and AA}), but was wondering what else would I have to do to turn a Arizona into a Penn from Pearl Timeframe. I thought they were close, but wasn't sure if other things outside the bridge/superstructure were significantly different. Thanks.

[quote="irishgreek"]These look really nice. Besides the bridge, what else would have to be changed on a 700 Arizona to make a 'right' Penns?

Thanks.[/quote]
[color=#0000FF][b]Thanks![/b][/color]
Depends on the era being modeled. The bridge tower is without doubt the most noticeable difference for 1930s through Pearl Harbor, much of the rest is very similar. After Pearl Harbor, the differences become increasingly significant. [i]Pennsylvania[/i] after 1943 was a very different ship above the main deck.